Press control mechanism



@m2 8, E935., J. P. DALY JUJMAM PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM INVENTUR @m0 89 Ma, J. P. DALY PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Y Filed May l5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT 0R ORNE 5 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Application May 13, 1933, Serial No. 670,958

19 Claims.

This invention relates to garment presses, and more particularly to control mechanism therefor. The invention aims to provide improved. mechanism of the class described in which two fluid pressure motors of the servo-motor type are utilized for producing press movement, one for the closing operation and the other for final pressure, together with a third servo-motor for actuating a part of the mechanism so as to vitalize the same and enable the final pressure servomotor to become eifective upon the pressing members, all in connection with valve mechanism and a conduit system including two-hand control by which the various servo-motors are made to cooperate with each other and produce proper press operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism of this class including the three servomotors mentioned, together with control valve mechanism capable of connection to the servomotors in various ways for control according to desirable or preferred characteristics, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

A further object of the invention is to provide press mechanism of the character described, actuated by a plurality of servo-motors under the control of two-hand control valve mechanism and a reservoir of measured capacity suitable for A actuation once only of the motor or motors which obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents somewhat diagrammatically a garment press equipped with my improved control devices, the press and other parts being shown in fully closed final pressure position; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View showing certain controlling valves with their ports and passages in normal or press release position; Fig. 3 is a similar view, with the valve ports and passages in the positions corresponding to Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a diagram, illustrating a modied arrangement oi the controlling valves, conduits and servo-motors; and Fig. 5 is a similar diagram illustrating still another modification.

While the invention is capable of use on any mechanism where movement of a part or parts by one or more servo-motors is desirable, for convenience and in no sense of limitation it has been illustrated as applied to a garment press, including a suitable frame I on which is 'supported a lower pressing member or bed 2 which cooperates with an upper pressing member or head 3 carried by one arm 4 of a head lever pivoted on the frame at 5, the rear arm 6 of said lever having connected thereto the mechanism for closing and opening the press. The pressing members are normally held open or in release position by the eiiect upon the head lever of the usual counterbalancing spring l, or a counterbalancing weight (not shown) or both. It is opened by the pressure effect upon the rear lever of a push rod 8, pivoted at 9 to the head lever and the lower end of which rod is cylindrical and slides freely in the sleeve portion of a pressure member lil, the opening in which extends substantially to the lower end of said member, as indicated by the dotted lines at II, and which pressure member, at its lower end, is provided with an anti-friction'roller l2 sliding in an inclined slot i3 in a stationary member I4 fastened to a suitable portion of the frame I.

Three servo-motors are provided, in the form shown in Fig. l, for actuating and controlling the movement of the pressing members. The primary or press closing servo-motor I5 has its cylinder pivotally mounted upon a boss or projection it from one side of member I0, while its piston il is provided with a rod I8 pivotally connected at i5 to the pressure rod 8. The secondary or pressure producing servo-motor is generally indicated at 20. In this case the piston is relatively stationary and the cylinder moves, for reasons of simplicity in the fluid pressure piping, not necessary to explain in detail. The piston 2l of this servo-motor has its rod 22 pivoted at 23 to an arm 24 on the stationary frame. The cylinder 25 at one end is provided with an ear 2@ pivoted at 2l to a projection from one side of the pressure member I0. The third servo-motor 2S is utilized for vitalizing the connection between pressure member I0 and pressure rod 8 or, in other words, for converting said tworelatively telescoping members into a rigid strut or pushing device. rThis vitalizing servo-motor comprises a piston 2S movable transversely of the length of the push rod in the chamber 29a of a cylinder formed as a part of the casting of member I0. The piston 'it has a through opening 30 from top to bottom, slightly larger in diameter than the rod 8, so that the rod can freely slide through said opening when in registry therewith. At the far side of the piston the cylinder chamber is provided with a cap SI within which is a compression spring 32 to return the piston to initial position, and at the same end of the piston it may be provided with a rod 33 which passes out through the end casing cap and which may be used for actuating any device, such as a valve, as will Vlater appear. Piston 28 is suitably arranged to be nonrotatable in its cylinder, such as by providing said piston with an opening 34 through its cup leather and into its body, but whichV opening is closed at its bottom, and which opening receives a stationary guide rod 35 attached to the cylinder head.

The upper portion of the piston, at one side of the opening 38, is hollowed out to provide a recess or seat 38 to receive the lower end of therod 8.

Pressure member I8, 8, in press-open or release position, is moved to the left in Fig. l by the effect of a suitable tension spring 3l, which is strong enough to move the roller i2 clear to the left hand end of the slot i3.

The controlling mechanism for the press described includes suitable valve devices, a conduit system and a reservoir by which the flow of pressureto and from the several servo-motors may be controlled in the desired manner. The conduit system includes a pipe communicating with a suitable sourcey of fluid pressure, not shown, such asa pump, reservoir of large capacity, or the like. Said pipe lil 'communicates with two branches, one of which, villa, includes parts of two control valve devices 4l, 42, and leads to a reservoir 43 of limited ,capacity and which may be provided with a piston 44 actuated by a hand screw 45 so as to enable the eiective volume of the reservoir to be adjusted to the desired conditions, the piston rod being xed in any adjusted position by a lock nut 4e. Reservoir i3 communicates with a pipe lilb which includes passages through other portions of the same valves l i @t and which pipe 48h, beyond said valves, 'communicates with Y the chamber in the primary servo-motor I5.

Valves 4i and 42 are alike except that one operates left handed and the other right handed, so that description of one will suice for both. Each valve is generally of gas cock type but with two sets of ports spaced longitudinally along the valve. Each valve includes a hollow casing 4l with pipe connections and in which rotates a ported plug 48, usually tapered and held to its seat by a spring not shown.. 'Ihe valve ports and passages at one end of each valve are shown above and the valve ports and passages at the other end of the valve are shown below in Fig. 2, which illustrates the valve parts in release or press-open position In'this position pressure from the supply ows freely through pipe 46u and the two valves to the reservoir 43, flow from which by way of pipe 48h is shut off. The pressure in reservoir 43 is therefore the same as that at the source of supply. Motor I5 is open to exhaust by way of pipe 48h and valve d2. Each valve is provided with an Voperating handle 58 by which it may be turned. By applying one hand to'each of said handles and rotating them, valve si in the clockwise and valve 42 in the counterclockwise direction, the valve plugs may be moved to the positions shown in Figs. l and 3, cutting oi the iiow from the supply to the reservoir s3 and permitting the pressure in said reservoir to flow through -pipe 40h directly to the primary servo-motor cylinder I5, the piston in which therefore advances until it reaches the position shown in Fig. l, with the pressing members moved toward each other to a position in which they contact or in which at least it is impossible to get the fingers, handV or arm between the pressing members, or, in other words, to a'safe closed position. In this position the lower end of rod 8 is opposite and ready to enter the seat 38.

49 represents aV supplementary control valve, with a single set of ports and passages, but otherwise similar to the valves 4I, 42. however, is not spring operated but its plug will stay in any position in which it is placed. Valve 49 is in a conduit 49a leading from the fluid pressure supply pipe 4U to the chamber of the vitalizing servo-motor 29, and in the position shown in l0 Fig. 2 cuts on pressure flow from the source and opens said chamber to exhaust. Valve 49 is operated by a handle 5ta and is placed adjacent the valve 42, the two valves 42, 49 being connected by a link 5I passing loosely through openings in 15 1 arms 52 on the valve handles and being provided with a head beyond each of said arms. YAs a consequence, when the lever of valve 42 is turned to the right, the plug of valve 49 is also turned to the pressure supply position, and pres- 20 sure thereupon ilows from the pipe 48 by way of pipe isa and said valve to the chamber 29a of the vitalizing servo-motor, thereby moving over its piston to the position shown in Fig. 1. As soon as the piston 28 passes or uncovers the port 53, 25 pressure flows by way of pipe 54 from chamber 29a to the chamber of the nal pressure servomotor 2e, 'causing its cylinder to move over and to drive the 'roller I2 up the inclined or cam slot i3 to apply final pressure. 30

In the press closing operation theV operator applies her two hands to the handles 50 and is compelled to hold them both over until the primary servo-motor I5 has completed its stroke and the vitalizing servo-motor has moved its 35 piston over untilthe rod 8 reaches its seat 36 in the piston 2S. If the hands are removed from either or both of the levers before this position is reached, both the primary and vitalizing servomotor are open to exhaust through one or the 40 other of the valves 4I, 42 which are returned to the position of Fig. 2 by springs 4I and 42. If the handles are held over long enough pressure will flow tothe nal pressure servo-motor and when roller I2 advances up the incline I3 pres- 45 sure is applied through the piston 28 and seat 36 to the rod il, so that Ythe members I 0, 8, become a rigid strut or pressure member and iinal pressure of the head is applied upon the bed. This pressure builds up to the maximum and the op- 50 eratcr can remove her hands from the valve handles and the press remains closed.

When the hands are removed from the valve handles'the valves 4I, 42 return to their original positions, but that does not occur with the valve 55 llt', which remains in the pressure supplying position.

VTo release the press the handle of valve 49 is grasped and it is restored to its original position, which opens the iinal pressure cylinder to ex- 60 haust by way of a pipe 56 leading from the inal pressure servo-motor cylinder to the pipe 49a, and in which pipe 5E is a check valve seating toward the cylinder or" motor 2Ilso as to prevent ilow of pressure into said cylinder except by Way 65 of chamber 29a and pipe 54. When valve 49 is moved to its exhaust position pressure ilows out of cylinder 25 to exhaust through said valve and the springs 3l return roller I2 to the left hand 70 end of the slot I3 and release the pressure on the piston 28, which is thereupon returned to its initial position by the spring 32, whereupon springs 'l pull down the rear arm of the head lever and return the piston I'I to its initial position, 75

This valve, 5

with all parts ready for another cycle of operations as before.

Fig. e conventionally illustrates a modified form of the invention with a slightly different arrangement of controlling valve and conduit mechanism. Here the valves 4|, 42 control the flow of pressure from the supply pipe 4i! to reservoir d3, and from reservoir d3 by way of a pipe 4th and its branches Mic; 4M directly to the chambers of both the primary closing servo-motor i5 and the vitalizing motor 2.6i, which act in turn to close the press and to vitalize the pressure strut. When that operation has been accomplished the operator operates a valve 6G, which is of the same type before described and which opens communication from the supply pipe 4@ by way of pipe 4i3e, to the chamber of the nal pressure cylinder 25, whose cylinder thereupon moves over and completes the final pressure operation. Release is accomplished by returning valve 5t to its original position, thereby cutting off further flow of pressure from the source and opening the chamber of cylinder 25 to exhaust, while the cylinders of motors l5 and 29 exhaust through the valve 42, as before.

Fig. 5 conventionally illustrates still another modification in which the valves 4 I, 42 likewise are operated by hand to control the flow of pressure from the supply to the reservoir and from said reservoir to each of the motors l5, 29. In this case, however, the flow of pressure to the iinal pressure motor is controlled by the vitalizing servo-motor, whose piston rod t3 is provided with a rigid arm 33a connected by a link 6l to the handle 62 of a valve (i3 which controls the flow or" pressure from the source, pipe 4t, by way of a pipe lef and valve 53 to the final pressure cylinder. In this case release is accomplished by a supplementary manually operated exhaust valve 64 in a pipe 65 communicating with the cylinder of motor 2li. rlChis valve is normally closed, and to release the press it is turned to open position, which relieves the pressure in the cylinder 25, permits it to move over and release the pressure at the seat 36 in piston 28, which thereupon moves over under the inuence ci its spring 32, thus returning valve G5 to exhaust position. Cylinder i5 is also open to exhaust through valve i3 and the press opens, as before.

With all arrangements the press or other device is controlled by two-hand control devices safe for the operator, which permit pressure to be supplied to a primary press closing servo-motor and then to a vitalizing servo-motor which renders the strut member effective for pressure purposes, following which pressure is supplied to the pressure producing servo-motor for the iinal operation. Exhaust is manually controlled and the press promptly opens with the return of all of its servo-motor parts to initial position.

In all arrangements described, the press is controlled by two-hand control mechanism which requires the operator to use both hands in closing the press and compel her to keep both hands occupied up to a time when the press is safely closed and before there is any possibility of applying full inal pressure with possible danger to the operator. Moreover, the reservoir 43 is o limited capacity, with a volume sufcient only for one complete operation of the servo-motor or servomotors which it actuates, so that if one hand is taken oii from one of the valve handles before the primary servo-motor alone or the primary and vitalizing servo-motors receive full actuation, such servo-'notors are evacuated and it is necessay to permit both valve handles to return to initial position for recharging the reservoir 43 before the press can be properly actuated. In all cases described, the press is actuated by the conjoint operation in order of three servo-motors, i

including first the primary servo-motor which closes the press and extends the telescoping parts 8, iii, or the pressure member; secondly, the vitalizing servo-motor which locks the two parts of the pressure member, 8, lll, in extended position and prevents them from returning and thereby vitalizes them as a single rigid pressure device; and third, the iinal pressure servo-motor which advances the lower end of the pressure member to the right in Fig. l and along the cam track I3 and the head down by the effort of the operator applied directly to the head lever, or, in other words, the head lever may be operated manually and without power. Such operation, however, does not interfere with the proper actuation of the control devices or of the servo-motors controlled thereby, and even if the head is closed by hand, the same two-hand control devices must be operated in the same way, with complete function of all control parts in the manner before described to produce final pressure. No safeguard is ineiiective even if the press is hand closed.

In addition to all the foregoing, it will further be observed that in all forms of the invention the nal pressure servo-motor does not and cannot become effective upon the head lever or pressing members until after the press is safely closed. In the arrangement shown in Fig. l this is due to the fact that no pressure flows to the iinal pressure cyiinder until the piston 28 moves past and exposes the port t3. In the arrangement shown in ig. fl, while it is possible to permit pressure to flow to the inal pressure cylinder at any time, nevertheless such pressure cannot be eiiective upon the head until both the primary and vitalizing servo-motor pistons have moved fully over so that the press is closed and the members or" the pressure strut device are locked to each other. rlIhe same condition exists in the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, in addition to which no pressure can cw to the iinal pressure cylinder in this form until the vitalizing piston has moved over and actuated valve 63.

Other advantages of the invention will be ap parent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

l.. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head lever carrying a head, a pressure device pivotally connected to the head lever and including two telescoping members, means for locking said members in. extended position to thereby vitalize them as a pressure strut, and cam means along which the lower end of the pivoted pressure device ino-ves to apply final pressure.

2. A garment press of the character described in claim l, in which said locking means includes a fluid pressure cylinder carried by the pressure device and piston operated means effective to lock the members of the pressure device in extended position and thereby vitalize them as an effective pressure strut.

3. A garment press of the character described in claim 1, including a primary motor effective upon the head lever for closing the press, and a final pressure motor for advancing the pressure device along said cam means to apply final pressure.

4. A garment press of the character described in claim 1, including a primary motor effective upon the head lever for closing the press, a final pressure motor for advancing the pressure device along said cam. means to apply final pressure, two hand control means for said primary motor, and control means for said final pressure motor effective only when the press is safely closed.

5. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head lever carrying a head, a pressure device connected to the head lever and including two telescoping members, vitalizing cylinder and piston devices carried by one of said members and each having Ya transverse opening through which the other member is freely slidable, the piston device having a seat at one side of its transverse opening, means for supplying fluid pressure to the cylinder to thereby advance its piston to a position with its seat op-posite the end of the other member, and means for applying pressure to the pressure device.

6. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head lever carrying a head, a pressure device connected to the head lever and including two telescoping members, vitalizing cylinder and piston devices carried by one of said members and each having a transverse opening through which the other member is freely slidable, the piston device having a seat at one side of its transverse opening, means for supplying iiuid pressure to the cylinder to thereby advance its piston to a position with its Y seat opposite the end of the other member, and

iiuid pressure means for applying pressure to said pressure device.

'7. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head lever carrying a head, a pressure device connected to the head lever and including two telescoping members, vitalizing cylinder and piston devices carried by one of said members and each having a transverse opening through which the other member is freely slidable, the piston device having a seat at one side of Vits transverse opening, means for supplying fluid pressure to the cylinder to thereby advance its piston to a position with its seat opposite the end of the other member, and

fiuid pressure means for applying'pressure to said Y pressure device and 'a manually operated controller therefor.

8. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head lever carrying a head, a pressure device connected to said lever and including two telescoping members, a primary servo-motor for closing the press and extending said members, a vitalizing servomotor for locking said members in extended position, a final pressure servo-motor for applying pressure to the vitalized pressure device, control means for controlling the ow of pressure to the primary servo-motor, means for causing the iiow of pressure `to the vitalizing servo-motor, means whereby said vitalizing servo-motor by its opera- '.'tion controls the fiow of pressure to the final pressure servo-motor, and means for exhausting the final pressure servo-motor. Y

9. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head levercarrying a head, a pressure device pivotally connected to the head lever and including two telescoping members, means for locking said members in extended position to thereby vitalize them as a pressure strut, cam means along which the lower end of the pivoted pressure device moves to apply nal pressure, fluid pressure motor means 5 for closing the press and actuating said locking means, two hand control means therefor, and a. separate fiuid pressure motor for actuating the vitalized pressure strut to apply final pressure.

10. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head lo lever carrying a head, a pressure device-pivotally connected to the head lever and including two telescoping members, means for locking said members in extended position to thereby vitalize them as a pressure strut, cam means along which the 1c lower end of the pivoted pressure device moves to apply final pressure, fluid pressure motor means for closing the press and actuating said locking means, two hand control means therefor, including a reservoir of limited capacity with volume 20 sufficient for but one operation of said fluid pressure motor means, and a separate fiuid pressure motor for actuating the vitalized pressure strut to apply final pressure.

11. A garment press, comprising a bed, a. head 25 Y lever carrying a head, a pressure device pivotally connected to the head lever and including two telescoping members, means forV locking said members in extended position to thereby vitalize them as a pressure strut, cam means along which 30 the lower end of the pivoted pressure device moves to apply final pressure, fluid pressure motor means for closing the press and actuating said locking means, two hand control means therefor, a separate fluid pressure motor for actuat- 35 ing the vitalized pressure strut to apply final pressure, and manually operable release means for saidnal pressure motor.

12. A garment press of the character described A in claim 5, including two hand control means for 40 the iiuid pressure supply to. said cylinder.

13. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head lever carrying a head, a pressure device connected to said lever and including two rigidtelescoping -members, a primary servo-motor for closing the 45 press and extending said members, rigid means having an operative position adapted to hold said members extended, a vitalizing servo-motor for moving said means to operative position, a final pressure'servo-motor for applying pressure to the 50 vitalized pressure device, control means for controlling the iiow of pressure to said primary servo-motor, and a valve device for controlling the flow of pressure to and from the Vvitalizing and final pressure servo-motors. 55 Y Y vitalizing servo-motors, and a valve device for controlling the flow of pressure to and from the final pressure servo-motor. 70,

l5. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head lever carrying a head, a pressure device connected tothe head lever and including two telescoping members, vitalizing cylinder and piston devicesVV carried by one of said members and each having a transverse opening through which the other member is freely slidable, the piston device having a seat at one side of its transverse opening, means for supplying fluid pressure to the cylinder to thereby advance its piston to a position with its seat opposite the end o-f the other member, fluid pressure means for applying pressure to said pressure device, and controlling means therefor actuated by said vitalizing devices.

16. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head lever carrying a head, a pressure device connected to said lever and including two telescoping members, a primary servo-motor for closing the press and extending said members, a vitalizing servomotor for locking said members in extended position, a final pressure servo-motor for applying pressure to the vitalized pressure device, two hand control devices for controlling the flow of pressure to and from the primary and vitalizing se-rvomotors, a valve device controlled by said vitalizing servo-motor for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to said final pressure servo-motor, and a manually operatable valve for exhausting the final pressure servo-motor.

1'7. In a press of the class described, the combination of a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, a device for applying pressure to the pressing members including two telescoping members, means for locking said members in extended position to form a rigid pressure strut,

and cam means along which the lower end of the strut moves to apply nal pressure.

18. A garment press, comprising a bed, a head lever carrying a head, a pressure device connected to said lever and including two rigid telescoping 5 members, a primary servo-motor for closing the press and extending said members to form a rigid pressure strut, a vitalizing servo-motor for locking said members in extended position, a nal pressure servo-motor for applying pressure tof the vitalized pressure device, means for controlling the ilow of pressure to the primary servo-motor, means for causing the flow of pressure to the vitalizing servo-motor, means whereby said vitalizing servo-motor by its operation controls the oW of pressure to the final pressure servo-motor, and means for exhausting the nal pressure servo-motor.

19. In a press of the class described, the combination of a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, mechanism for applying pressure to the pressing members including a pairof rigid telescoping members, primary servo-motor means lfor extending said members, vitalizing servoemotor means for locking said telescoping members in extended position to form a contnuous rigid strut, and means controlled by said vitalizing means for applying final pressure through said strut.

JOSEPH P. DALY. 

